Apax Partners has dropped out of the running for US investigations company Kroll ahead of the deadline for final bids at the end of this month, a person familiar with the situation told Dow Jones Newswires Monday.

Kroll was put up for sale February by owners Marsh & McLennan for around $1.3 billion (€973m) and attracted interest from a number of private equity firms including BC Partners, Carlyle Group, General Atlantic Partners and Providence, people said.

However the auction is narrowing down and it is unclear whether BC Partners and Carlyle Group remain interested, they added.

Meanwhile Providence will likely bid through its security services portfolio company Altegrity, which is run by Michael Cherkasky, former chief executive of both Marsh & McLennan and Kroll.